Ladder.



E. F. RICE.

LADDER.

APPLICATION Fl LED MAR. 22. 1915.

1 ,1 99,6 1 1 Patented Sept, 26, 1916.

EMERY IE. RICE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E'MERY F. Bron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a ladder and particularly to the type generally known as step ladders.

An object of the invention resides in'the provision of a ladder which will be collapsible and so constructed that it may be folded into a very compact package. 7

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the device that it may be quickly and easily assembled.

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as the description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ladder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the device, showing a portion of one of the side bars, a step and the means for securing the same together, the tongue and socket members being disengaged to clearly illustrate the formation thereof.

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views: In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, I have provided a pair of spaced side bars 1 between which a plurality of steps 2 extend, which steps are detachably secured to the side bars in the following manner: On the ends of these steps plates 3 are secured by means of screws 4, from which plates extend tongues 5 which gradually decrease in width from the plates 3. The edges of these tongues 5 are beveled for a purpose which will later appear. Secured to the side bars 1, adjacent the ends of each step 2, are socket members 6 which have base portions disposed flat against the inner faces of the side bars and outwardly extending flanges 7 which converge toward their outer edges. These socket members are adapted to receive the tongues 5 with the beveled edges of the tongues lying beneath the flanges of the sockets 6. These socket members are tapered from their upper edges to their lower edges, the .width decreasing downwardly. The steps are thus held upon the side bars. In order that this portion of the ladder may be supported so as to extend at various angles to the horizontal, I have provided a pair of spaced legs 8 which are maintained in spaced relation by cross bars 9 which have notches in the ends thereof arranged to engage the shanks of thumb screws 10, which thumb screws are mounted on the legs 8 and so arranged that they may be adjusted to bind the bars 9 upon the legs. The legs will thus be braced and held in predetermined spaced relation. The upper ends of these legs are beveled, as at 11, so that they will fit against the rear edges of the side bars 1 and brace the same. In order that these legs may be detachably and adjustably secured to the side bars 1, I have secured arcuate plates 12 to the inner faces of the said legs, which plates are provided with slots 13, the lower edges of which have series of depressions 14. Secured to the side bars 1 and extending inwardly therefrom are screws 15 which are adapted to project through the slots 13 and have thumb nuts 16 mounted on the inner ends thereof on which nuts hubs 17 are formed which are adapted to extend into the depressions 14 when the nuts are tightened and to bind the plates 12 upon the side bars 1. The legs are thus adjustably secured and. detachably secured to the side bars.

When it is desired to disassemble the device for transportation the plates 12 may be disengaged from the screws 15 and the legs removed from the side bars. The cross bars 9 may then be removed from'the legs by loosening the thumb screws 10. The steps 2 may be removed from the side bars 1 by merely lifting the same so that the tongues 5 will be disengaged from the sockets 6. After the device has thus been .disassembled the parts may be packed in a neat bundle and placed in a suitable cover so that it may be carried about conveniently.

This construction is very convenient inasmuch as the ladder may be packed and carme by orkmen, s ch. as paint rs and.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916. i

paperhangers from place to place on a street car and it will neither be inconveniently carried nor obtrusive to the eye.

From the foregoing description it Will be seen that I have provided a ladder which may be readily disassembled and carried from place to place and I have so constructed the ladder that it may be adjusted so as to extend at various angles to the ground and consequently so as to vary the height of the ladder.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I have merely done so for the sake of 'con venience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made within the details of construction thereof without in any Way departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claim.

What I "claim is In combination with a ladder, a brace'ineluding a pair of spaced legs adapted toengage at their ends with the side rails of said ladder, areuate plates each rigidlyse-l cured at one end to one of said legs below the upperend thereof and extending outwardly therefrom to engage the inner face of the adjacent ladder railz, the said plates being provided with arcuate slots having spacednotched portions in their lower edges,

a bolt on each of said side rails, said bolt extending through said slots, and a nut for;

each of said bolts,

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature; in the presence of two Witnesses.

Doyle: of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of- Patents, Washington, D. G. 

